Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner and a symbol of resilience and inspiration to athletes worldwide, has died aged 114 after a hit-and-run incident in northern India, police confirmed on Monday.
Singh, affectionately known as the “Turbaned Tornado,” passed away from injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle while walking near his native village of Beas in Punjab’s Jalandhar district. The nonagenarian-turned-athlete, who famously began running marathons at the age of 89, leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the world of endurance sports.
“An exceptional athlete with incredible determination,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tribute that led national outpourings of grief. “Fauja Singh’s life reminds us of the power of the human spirit.”
Born in 1911 in rural Punjab during British colonial rule, Singh only moved to London later in life, following the tragic deaths of his wife and son. It was then, deep in grief and nearing 90, that he laced up a pair of running shoes for the first time and discovered a passion that would carry him around the world.
“Running showed me kindness and brought me back to life by making me forget all my traumas and sorrows,” Singh told CNN in a 2013 interview, shortly after completing a 10-kilometre race in Hong Kong, his final competitive run.
In his decade-long running career, Singh completed nine full marathons, including the London, New York, and Toronto races. His personal best came in 2003 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where he clocked five hours and 40 minutes. He returned to the same race in 2011 to become the first recorded centenarian to complete a marathon, finishing in just over eight hours.
Despite these extraordinary feats, Guinness World Records never officially recognised Singh as the oldest marathon finisher, as he lacked a birth certificate, a common occurrence for those born in rural India in the early 20th century. Still, Singh’s legend was affirmed in other ways, including a personal congratulatory letter from Queen Elizabeth II on his 100th birthday.
Inspector Hardev Preet Singh of Adampur police station confirmed that a suspect was arrested on Tuesday after CCTV footage was reviewed. The 26 year old accused, an Indian national residing abroad, has family in Canada who have been notified. Charges have been filed for negligent driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Singh was rushed to Shrimann Hospital in Jalandhar after the incident, but succumbed to injuries to his head and ribs, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh Virk.
Fauja Singh’s story was one of quiet heroism. Once a child who could not walk until the age of five due to weakness in his legs, he went on to inspire millions across the globe with his vitality, humility, and unshakable spirit.
“I am very fond of my running shoes, I absolutely love them,” he once said. “I wear them for pleasure. I can’t imagine my life without them.”
